Gas converter and cleaner of the liquid contact type



J. F. TEcKEMEYl-:R E1' AL 2,011,598

GAS CONVERTER AND CLEANER 0F THELIQUID CONTACT TYPE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 1, 1933 gmx/nin; meyer may@ leien ug. V20, '1935. 1 F, TECKEMEYER ET AL 2,011,59

GAs CONVERTER AND CLEANEEOF THE LIQUID CONTA-GT TYPE Filed July l, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 Sheets-Sheet l.1. F. TECKEMEYER ETAL GAS CONVERTER AND CLEANER OF 'THE LIQUID CONTACT TYPE Filed July 1, 1953 Amig. 20, 1935.

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GAS CONVERTERAND CLEANER 0F `THE LIQUID CONTACT TYPE o John F. Teckemeyer, Frederick W. Teckemeyen and George A. Teckemeyer, Pittsburgh, Pa., as,` signers of twenty-two per cent `to Loran L. v Lewis, five per cent to Charles Bosau, two per cent to' Chester Marquis, and five per Norval R. Ward, Pittsburgh, Pa.

cent to .implication July 1, 1933, Serial No. 678,684.

9 Claims. (01.261-121) This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in gas converters and cleaners of the liquid contact type.

s The primary object of this invention is to pro- E duce an apparatus adapted to effect the formation of a gas through the contact of air under pressure with any volatile liquid hydro-carbon, whereby said air becomes saturated and is then fed to a dryer and a cleaner; ready for use.

`AA still further object of this invention is to produce a device of the above mentioned character adapted to treat natural gas for th'e production of a super-illuminating gas particularly adapted toilluminating, cooking and other 'domestic and industrial purposes.

A still further object of this invention is to providea device or" the above mentioned character adapted to effect the formation of gas through v the contact of air under pressure with any volavided with suitable ducts for the admission of air under pressure and each also provided with porous sheets uniquely arranged'for the purpose of saturating the air under pressure with any volatile hydro-carbon liquid.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a cleaner in the upper portion of thecasing having a series of spaced porous sheets such as fabric or` the like for drying the saturated air and simultaneously cleaning the same for the production of a gas which has been found to be very valuab-le for household and industrial purposes. i

A still further objectofthis invention is to pr fvide a petroleum `product feeding manifold for the admission of any volatile hydro-carbon liquid or kthelike to the casing`which is controlled by means ofV a,l float chamber associated with the source of supply. I Y A VA still further object of this invention is to provide a novel supporting frame work for the porous contact sheets which will withstand the action of the compressed air.

'Other objects and advantages of "the invention willbecome apparent during 'the course of the followingdescription, taken with the drawings and in which,v

Figure 1 4isa front elevational view of the device embodying vthis invention illustrating the forimation of the casing and the liquid level indicator tube for each of the compartments with# in the casing and further showing the manifold for connection to the source of liquid supply; l

Figure 2 is an end velevational viewof the casing illustrating the manner in which the upper' and lower sections of the casing are secured or bolted together; i i

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentaryside elevational view of the device embodying this invention showingva portion of the casing cut away "to illustrate the internal construction of the' casing and illustrating the position of the porous contact sheets, inthe lower portion ofthe casing and the porous drier and cleaner sheets in the' upper portion of the casing; I A M FigureA 4 is a' horizontaly cross--sectionallV View taken through the lower portion of the casing di' rectly above the porous contact sheets illustrating the perforated plates positioned thereabove and showing 'the valve connections between adjacent compartments; A i s Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the porous contact sheettdevicesillustrating the supporting framework and showing the man ner in which the same is constructed;

Figure 6 is a top elevational view of one of the air chamber plates which fare positioned in the lowerA portion of the compartment for `the admission of air thereto; l s y Figure '7 is a transverse cross-sectional view of `the same illustrating the position of the open-m ing and the air feed connection; and l Figure 8 is an enlarged vertical elevational view' of the air feed to the spray jet device with the duct or passageway in the casing.

In the drawings, the reference character I0 designates in general a two-part casing including upper and lower complementary sections II and I2. 'I'he upper and lower sections II and I2 are provided with anges I3 and I4 respectively between which Vis Vpositioned a metallic plate I5 sandwiched between flexible packing elements I6 which may be formed of rubber'or other packing material so that when the boltsY I I are passed through the flanges I3 and I4, tightening of the nuts I8`thereon will draw the sections II and I2- e formed in the air jetdevicefsoftlratby tight' ing the nut 29 the' airtight connectionffvtllkbe* sageWay 24 having an outlet 25 in which is screw 1 threadedly secured a pipe 26 having lateral ports 21. lMounted on the pipe 26 is an air jet-device 28 fastened in place by means of a nut 29. The air jet kdevice 23 isprovided ivviftl'r a. ycerrar-al por# tion having periorate'cil-Wings 30 for allowing the passage of air through the liquid contained in the tank by means ofthe apertures 3| formedin; Y the spray jet device 28.

the pipe 26 has its" upper endtap'eredto bejrelas at'55 into the side wall of the casing I2 as ceived in a 'correspondingly tapered opening ,y 3"'3 formed betweentho air jotydvioe yis and ther verticalpipe 2d i j' It is intended to connect the upperprtioir lof each ychamber 20 Withvthe lower'po'rtori of the adjacent chamber in theop'arti-tionsKA lluride controlof ducts or passagevvays 34 by, means of, e Valves 35 positioned in the upper portie-ii o'f y-tliel ailowin'g air tobe" conducted tothe-'spray rjetdevicesivZSoi-n circuitous path of travel through thecasing, f2.1.' The constructionyof the air jet or spray devices in each of the compartments 2isidenticaland it Will'readil-ybe observedthat bit-passing air into the valve 2l it will its- Way through.l the boss`22 dovvnr the vertical passage ESjin-thejend wall-of the casing to the horizontal v et;

Where itk-WillI 4pass-tto. the, top of the g chamber, 2f;and Willfinditsgwayout otgthe valve 35 yinto the next adjacent diiztoilf formed in the partiftionY 19;, Wherefit willl aga-inI Vfind its Way', tothe fsheetfoff fabric or thek like Slfto areeon' nected apair.- of daterally; extending porous sheets 385 having angle'fportions' 39 4f extending in lopposite'directions and lying or abutting flushyvvithv Figure 5. The vertical poroussheet 31 extends devvnwardlywithinthe veompartment or chamber 29gfto nearly the bottom thereof as isgclearly il v ourely clamping the transverse. percus sheets 35 together While the flange portions 4I ofthe frame llmay bei. fastened by bolts -or=,thejlike de for seourelyho-ljdingthe lateral porous sheets 3S to theyverticalporous sheets f3?.l After the vertical and'laterally extending porous sheets lhave-,been

assembled asshown inFigure ,5, they may be positioned inthe compartment so thatthe outer edges ofthe frame. rest upon thelugsti which extendhwajdly from the sidewalls of the cas# ing With the bolts 44 passed through the'frame members'll and jthe' lugs 36 to lsecurely holdjthe assemblyvin place. 1 f i v `In vthe upper vportion of each rof rthecompart-r ments 25 is secured a perforatedmetallic plate 45mm/ingV air passageways 4@ and supported by lugsj'l which extend inwardly from the -llpper portion of the Caingr Bolts 48A ,may .beased ri-wiu be noted that claimed.k

For the purpose offeeding aliquid volatile N hydro-carbon product to the chambers 25, there is provided, a oat controlled'valvechamber G9 having a connection Withlasource of'V any vola' tile hydro-carbon liquid Wherebya predetermined lanount `is fed to the manifold pipe 5! Which is t'ionfw'i-th valves 54, the outlet of which extends ttieptirposeof adjusting the supplyl of a vo-latile lowerportion of the porous ysheets Where "itis fed to the contrai porous Shoot 31 and Win iind rits' Wayiupwar'dly by means of capillary attraotionto the transverse porous sheet 38.

The' saturated air will then pass through an opening 5t formed inthe last compartmentor chamber 29gand Willlpass into the upper portion Il rof* the receptacle H3` thereby being-'fed t0' the upper portion. M at' one' end thereof.rv i f Secured ,in the uppersection Il isa series of spaced'porous` sheets 51 having marginal yframe members `58v for beingv received in grooves 59 formed? onY the `internal `upper Wall. ofthe section ll.. The porous cleaning. sheets 51-may entend the entire; length of the casingrsectionfli and maybe held in place by, thelm'etallic sheets l5 and the packing sheets/'i6 interposed between the Sections; Hand i2 of the casing Hl.A At one end of the upper section I i there vis providedzaV screw threaded boss 6|] for receiving;axcleanfoutplug vnotishovv'ngand the other rend yof thesection` rI i. is provided' Witha screw threaded boss 5l forreceivingfanioutlet valve 62.v f f Air pressureY indicators 63 may be se'curedin the section; H'. for determining theair pressure in the casing at each end thereof and the saturated the same time will dry the 'gas passingtherethrough.k before'it reaches the outlet valve 62 e Which'valvefmaybe connected to a 4domestic house lighting system or may be-connectedto agas stovev e or other domesticror industrial gas appliance. f the vertical porous sheets 31 Yas illustrated inf `It is to be understood thatthe air jet devices 28 are'hollovv and are formedfwith chambers 28. so that the pipe 2S may have the transverse portY '2-1 ccmmunicatingwith the chamberA 28 Whereupon; the air under pressure is fed to` the 'lower portion of each of the'chambers 20 through the `apertures 3| Where itbubbles through the volatile hydro-.carbony product liquid fedto' the bottom ,A liquid level glassl Il maycommunicate with each of the compartments or chambers 20for the purpose of indicating the liquid level'of theliquid vhydro-carbon product in order that the level may bei keptup for assuring the eflicient operation of the apparatus". .e o Y. s It is ktobe understood that the formof thevinventicn herewith shownanddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of rthe invention and that various changes may be madeinthe shape,Y size and arrangement lof parts Without departing from the spirit andy scopeof the invention `as ``hydro# carbon liquid to the compartments or f chambers'- 2il so'that the liquid level vvill engage Y gas will be cleaned `by* the porous sheets 5l and at soi-1 We claim:- y 1. A gas producer of the character described `comprising a casing formed of upper and lower sections, an air passageway formed in the lower section, an air jet chamber mounted in the bottom ofthe lower section vand spaced from` the bottom wall thereof, a vertical porous sheet extending upwardly from the bottom of the lower section, laterally extending porous sheets extending from thevertical porous sheets and means for feeding a liquid to the bottom section of the casing.

2. A gas producer of the character described comprising a casing composed of upper and lower sections, an air duct formed in the lower section Y having communication with a source of air under pressure, an air jet chamber located in and spaced from the bottom wall of the lower section, means for admitting liquid to the lower section, and a liquid contact device mounted above the air jet chamber comprising a vertical porous sheet, laterally extending porous sheets connecting the vertical porous sheet and a frame for holding the "porous sheets in position.

3. A gas producerV of the character describe comprising a casing composed of upper and lower sections, an air duct Vformed in the lower section having communication with a source of air under pressure, an air jet chamber located in the lower 'section and spaced from the bottom wall thereof having communication with the air duct, a vertical porous sheet mounted in the lower section, a plurality of laterally extending porous sheets secured to the vertical porous sheet, means for feeding a liquid to the porous sheets whereby air may bubble therethrough and pass upwardly through the saturated porous sheets, and means in the upper section of the casing for drying and cleansing the saturated air.

4. A gas producer of the character described comprising a casing composed of upper and lower sections, an air jet chamber mounted in the lower section and spaced from thebottom wall thereof, said air jet chamber having communication with a sourcey of air pressure, a vvertical porous sheet mounted in the casingextending downward therein to nearly the bottom thereof, a series of laterally'extendillg porous sheets connected with the vertical porous sheet, means for' .feeding a liquid to the vertical porous sheet and a gas cleaner mounted in the upper section of the casing for drying the gas formed in the lower section.

y 5. A gas producer of the character described comprising a casing composed of upper and lower sections, a series of partitions mounted in the lower section forming adjacent compartments, an air duct extending through each compartment from the top to the bottom thereof, an air' jet chamber connecting the lower extremity of the `air duct in'each compartment, said air jet charnber comprising a hollow perforated casing vsupported above the bottom Wall of the lower section,

the upper end of each air duct having communication with the adjacent compartment, a vertical porous sheet mounted in each compartment,

sheets and means mounted in the upper section of the casing for cleaning the saturated air after it has passed through each of the compartments.

6. In a gas producer of the character described, a casing having a series of communicating compartments, means for feeding a petroleum product to the lower end of each compartment, an air jet chamber in the lower end of each compartment normally submerged in the petroleum product, a series of superposed liquid contact sheets in each compartment above the air jet chamber, and means in the upper end of the casing for purifying and drying the saturated air in its passage from the casing, each air jet chamber having top and bottom perforated walls and an air inlet in its bottom wall whereby air is caused to bubble through liquid surrounding the air jet chamber.

'7. lIn a gas producer of Ithe character described, a casing having a series of communicating compartments, means for feeding a petroleum product to the lower end of each compartment, an air jet chamber in the lower end of each compartment normally submerged in the petroleum product, a series of superposed liquid contact sheets in each compartment above the air jet chamber, and means in the upper end of the casing for purifying and drying the saturated air in its passage from the casing, each air jet chamber having top and bottom perforated walls and an air inlet in its bottom wall whereby air is caused to bubble through liquid surrounding the air jet chamber, and a porous element extending through the liquid contact sheets for feeding liquid thereto by capillary attraction.

8. In a gas producer of the character described, a casing having a series of communicating compartments, means for feeding a petroleum product to the lower end of each compartment, an air jet chamber in the lower end of each compartment normally submerged in the petroleum product, a series of superposed liquid contact sheets in each compartment above the air jet chamber, and means in the upper end of the casing for purifying and drying the saturated air in its passage from the casing, each air jet chamber comprising a casing having perforated top'and bottom walls, an air supply pipe attached to the casing and outletting interiorly thereof whereby air escapes through the top and bottom perforated walls for bubbling upwardly through the liquid for contact with the liquid contact sheets.

9. In a gas producer of the character described, a casing having a series of communicating compartments, means for feeding a petroleum product to the lower end of each compartment, means for supplying air under pressure to one end of the casing for travel through the compartments, an

air jet chamber in the lower end of each compartment and liquid contact means in each compartment including a series of superposed porous liquid contact sheets and a single porous element in contact with the sheets for conveying liquid thereto by capillary attraction, and the air jet chambers being operative for moving liquid laden air bubbles upwardly in the compartments for contact with the liquid contact sheets, and means in the upper end of the casing for purifying and drying the saturated air before passage from the casing.

JOHN F. TECKEMEYER. FREDERICK W. TECKEMEYER. GEORGE A. TECKEMEYER. 

